Tech volleyball continues to improve

Friday

When Texas Tech volleyball coach Don Flora came to Lubbock to lead the Red Raiders before the 2011 season, he could only point to a vision.

The Red Raiders were perennial cellar dwellers of the Big 12 Conference for the last decade, and Flora was determined to change that.

When junior Aubree Piper spiked down the match-clinching kill Friday afternoon against Texas-Pan American, Flora no longer had to point to his vision.

He could point to results: Last year Tech had an 11-win swing (finishing 15-17), and Friday's win against the Broncos moved the Red Raiders to a perfect 5-0 - Tech's best start since 2003.

"We went from here to here in one season, basically with the same team that was here the year before in 2010," Flora can tell people, "and so now I think there's a belief from our region. The Amarillo folk know it, Lubbock people know it, and now we've got Dallas and Houston, we've got recruits from all over the state. So that's an important part of changing this culture and changing this program."

The Red Raiders already got themselves a marquee pre-conference win last week in the Boston College Invitational.

Tech came back from two sets down in the final match against the host Eagles, taking the match 3-2.

Tech hadn't won a non-conference game against a power-conference member since 2007 prior to Flora's arrival. (Tech beat Connecticut in straight sets last season to break the streak)

"Leaving the Boston College tournament and beating Boston (College)," freshman Emily Ehrle said, "we wanted to come out with a lot of energy in this game and I think we were successful in doing that, carrying it out through all three games."

Ehrle led Tech with 10 kills against the Broncos, and the 6-foot-2 outside hitter was originally committed to Arkansas before she chose the Red Raiders.

A couple of years ago, Ehrle said she probably wouldn't have even considered Tech.

But she has seen Flora's results.

"It was good to get in and figure out that this is a rebuilding program and we're only working our way up," Ehrle said.

Piper came to Tech three years ago from Canyon Randall near Amarillo, one of the West Texas power's in high school volleyball.

She said being a part of a rebuilding program is what drew her to Tech, as well as its close proximity to home. She said the mindset of the team is "completely different" than it was before Flora's tenure began.

"It's turned around a lot," said Piper, who had to suffer through a four-win season in 2010. "I came here knowing that they were trying to turn their program around, and I wanted to be a part of that. Don has done a great job. Our volleyball IQ has gone way up, and I think that's huge for our program."

Flora said Tech is in a great position to get back into winning because of its commitment to athletics and also its Texas location.

Although the Red Raiders still have a ways to go before competing for a Big 12 title, Flora said the culture of the team is on the right track.

"We flipped the switch last year," he said. "To go from where we were to 15 wins was huge, and now it's about getting this program better physically and mentally. And so we're on the right track culturally."

To comment on this story:

thomas.magelssen@lubbockonline.com • 766-8723

george.watson@lubbockonline.com • 766-2166

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